Saturday, June 17, 2017

10 Must-See Places in South Korea During the 2018 Winter Olympics

As I ambled through the ancient Gyeongbokgung Palace, the scent of jasmine flowers filled the air, the sun shone through the mountain peaks, and pastel-colored cherry trees, filled with blossoms, lined the path; it felt as though life had truly slowed down and I had entered the past.

No one was checking their phones for Facebook responses, no one was rushing or pushing to get a photo, and everything was very calm and peaceful. I was surrounded with smiles from people wearing the traditional hanbok dress. I felt I really got a as close as to ancient life as possible without access to a time machine to bring me here.

People don’t just wear hanbok at festivals or to ancient temples, they also wear them while shopping and to work. It is perfectly natural for them; for me it added to the beauty of South Korea.

After just a few days in the country, I could easily see why PyeongChang was selected to host the 2018 Winter Olympics. While tourists usually stay in Seoul, Korea’s beautiful countryside with its large mountains and great resorts will encourage talk about the Olympic games for years to come.

Here are 10 of my favorite places in the northern region of South Korea.

Gwangmyeong means “prosperous life,” and the cave has a long history of tragedy and prosperity. Originally it was a goldmine when Korea was under Japanese colonial rule in 1912, and then, during the Korean War, it provided shelter for refugees. In 1972, it became a space to hold salted shrimp, and finally in 2011 Gwangmyeong city opened it as a theme park of Korea’s industrial heritage. To this day there are still deposits of gold in the cave.

Some of the highlights of the cave:

-Cave Botanical Garden: since no light enters the cave, cutting-edge technology is used to grow vegetables which are used in the restaurant inside the cave.

-Cave Aqua World: aquariums hold different species of fish from around the world

-Light Space: images made using only lighting effects are projected and synchronized to music

-Golden Waterfall: a natural waterfall inside the cave is nearly 30 feet tall and 30 feet wide and pours 1.5 tons gallons of water every minute.

A few other things you can do are pan for gold, visit the Wall of Wishes, an underground lake, as well as an interactive area just for kids. (is the Wall of Wishes the interactive area?)

With a depth of almost 900 feet and over four and half miles long (with one mile open to the public), the cave got the attention of director Peter Jackson who modeled Smaug’s lair from the the second Hobbit movie, “The Desolation of Smaug.” A few props from the “Lord of the Rings” movies, as well as a large dragon, are displayed around the cave.

Price: $1.00–5.50 (1,000–6,000won) Hours: 9:00 a.m.–6:00 p.m.

Website: http://www.gm.go.kr/cv/en/index.do

9. Suwon Hwaseong Fortress

The east gate of the Suwon Hwaseong Fortress. (Benjamin Chasteen/The Epoch Times)

Built by King Jeongjo of the late Joseon period in the 18th century, this massive structure is a site to see. With its walls stretching almost 4 miles, it was originally built to to show the King’s filial piety towards his father whose tomb he relocated behind its walls. It was carefully designed with the most sophisticated science and astronomical knowledge from both European and Asian influences at the time, which impacted its layout, construction, floodgates, and its ultimate purpose–to protect the inhabitants from enemy forces within its massive military compounds.

Unfortunately, during the Korean war in the 1950s the fortress was partially destroyed. Years later restoration of the site was undertaken, which restored much of this mighty fortress to its original form. However, because of the massive size of the structure, construction continues to this day.

A few must see places are the north floodgate, the beacon tower, and the east cardinal gate.

Out of all the shopping areas I explored with a group, this area was one of the best. There aren’t many English signs on the storefronts, but if you are looking for traditional Korean clothing, crafts, calligraphy, simply a nice Korean cuisine, this market has it all. One of the best places we discovered was a traditional Korean teahouse on a second floor. As soon as you walked into the all-wood space, the smell of herbs and tea filled the air, and an elderly woman greeted us with a bright smile. It didn’t feel like a restaurant. It was as if we had walked into a home, and we were served the best tea any of us had while in Korea. That day It was raining pretty hard, and we couldn’t ask for a more perfect spot. We liked it so much that we stayed for a hours?, drinking tea, sharing stories, and immersing ourselves in Korean culture.

It’s unfortunate that the 2018 Winter Olympics will miss the cherry blossom season in April. Cherry trees bloom all around South Korea, and are a highlight of the year, celebrated by cherry blossom festivals. One of the most picturesque sights is in Gangneung city, near Korea’s northeastern coast: the Gyeongpo Cherry Blossom Festival located around Gyeongpoho Lake, with misty mountains as a backdrop.

If you don’t feel like walking, they have all kinds of bicycles that hold anywhere from one to four riders.Hungry?Just down the road sits an American style restaurant called L Barbecue, which surprisingly served some of the best ribs and pork loin I’ve ever had.

Seoul is known for its nightlife and popular night markets. On Friday and Saturdays evenings, Koreans enjoy delicious food catered from countless food trucks, music and dancing, shops, or picnicking at Han Riverside Park. Come early enough to watch the sun set over the river.

Price: Free Hours: 6:00 p.m. – 11:00 p.m.

5. Woljeongsa Temple Stay

One of the main temples at the Woljeongsa Temple Stay. Woljeongsa was built in 643 by monk Jajang after returning from the Tang Dynasty in China. Legend has it that Jajang brought back part of Buddha Shakyamuni remains and built the temple in his honor. (Benjamin Chasteen/The Epoch Times)

Woljeongsa means “beautiful moon of the heart,” a perfect name for this cultural experience in which gives visitors a chance to connect with their inner self while being surrounded by nature.

Religion is very important to Koreans, and it seems to reflect on how honesty plays a role in their lives. Temples can be found everywhere, whether in the city or dotting the countryside, and as both tourists and natives attend on a regular basis. The Woljeongsa Temple is the oldest temple, originally built in 643 and later rebuilt after it was burned down by the Japanese centuries later.

One of the main temples at the Woljeongsa Temple Stay. Much of the temples have Chinese characters. The translation of these are “Temple of the Great Law Wheel,” and the bottom one is "Chosen Buddha Hall"

Experience what it is like to be a monk: make Buddha prayer beads, learn about Buddhist painting, do a walking meditation, and, of course, eat a vegetarian meal, all while exploring the grand history of this ancient temple.

Visitors may register for just the activity program that lasts two-three hours, for a one whole-day program, or, if they are feeling adventurous, for one to four nights for the full temple experience.

The Alpenisa resort is gorgeous and has plenty to offer whether you like to ski or not. Learn all about Korea’s snow history through artifacts, antique photos, and facts on how their ancestors created and used skis. Also take a ride to the top of a160 foot tower where you can see breathtaking views of the whole resort.

Just a 10 minute-drive away is the 2018 PyeongChang Olympic Promotion Hall where you can experience what it is like to fly down the ski slope using a 360-degree virtual reality headset. Or take a ride in a 4D theater as you become a virtual member of a bobsled team zipping down the new PyeongChang snow track.

Near the resort is the Odaesan National Park, the Korea Botanic Garden, and the beautiful Heungjeong Valley.

Barrels of fermented kimchi, vegetables, and other cooking pastes and sauces, at Jeong Gang Won institute. (Benjamin Chasteen/The Epoch Times)

The entrance of the Jeong Gang Won, the Institute of Traditional Korean Cuisine, in Pyeongchang. (Benjamin Chasteen/The Epoch Times)

Aside from the amazing sights and wonders of the Korea, one of the most important aspects is Korean cuisine. Even if you have eaten at a Korean restaurant before, your experience simply cannot be compared to the local flavors of Korea. The restaurants we visited in Korea were all fantastic, from the rich local flavors, very tender meats, to the locally grown vegetables. But one place that stands out is Jeong Gang Won.

At the large gate at the entrance, visitors are greeted by rows and rows of barrels filled with various kinds of homemade fermented vegetables, needing to sit for a weeks or even months. The kimchi was the best I’ve ever had.

Be prepared to spend at least a few hours here. Better yet stay a few nights in their traditional houses. All of the food is grown onsite and is even organic. If you have 10 or more in your group and you reserve spots, you can take part in a traditional cooking class to make your own Bibimbap.

Learning how to cook the Royal Court Rice Pasta dish, called tteokbbokki, at the Jeong Gang Won institute. (Benjamin Chasteen/The Epoch Times)

Learning how to cook the Royal Court Rice Pasta dish, called tteokbbokki, at the Jeong Gang Won institute. (Benjamin Chasteen/The Epoch Times)

Learning how to cook the Royal Court Rice Pasta dish, called tteokbbokki, at the Jeong Gang Won institute. (Benjamin Chasteen/The Epoch Times)

Learning how to cook the Royal Court Rice Pasta dish, called tteokbbokki, at the Jeong Gang Won institute. (Benjamin Chasteen/The Epoch Times)

Chefs make bibimbap for all the guests using a large cast iron cooking pot. (Benjamin Chasteen/The Epoch Times)

Bibimbap served at the The Jeong Gang Won institute. (Benjamin Chasteen/The Epoch Times)

The area surrounding the institute covers over 33,000 miles, so take a stroll in their park, see the waterfall, visit the museum, and admire their collection of exotic birds.

Men perform a traditional folk dance called nongak in the Korean Folk Village park. (Benjamin Chasteen/The Epoch Times)

Men perform a traditional folk dance called nongak in the Korean Folk Village park. (Benjamin Chasteen/The Epoch Times)

Men perform a traditional folk dance called nongak in the Korean Folk Village park. (Benjamin Chasteen/The Epoch Times)

Located in the city of Yongin, just south of Seoul, is a huge village composed of houses from the late Jose Dynasty that have been relocated and reconstructed to show the traditional way of life: great food, master craftsmen making tools, and performances with traditional Korean music and dancing. Kids can enjoy the large area of amusement park rides, games, and crafts. Many rent hanbok clothing to don while strolling around the village, which I highly recommend; even if you are a foreigner, it just adds to the overall experience.

If you plan to visit, make sure you at least book for half a day, there is so much to see and experience that you won’t want to rush through.

The Korean Folk Village in the city of Yongin. (Benjamin Chasteen/The Epoch Times)

A worker explaining the process of making traditional tools at the Korean Folk Village. (Benjamin Chasteen/The Epoch Times)

A restaurant at the Korean Folk Village in the city of Yongin. (Benjamin Chasteen/The Epoch Times)

Traditional utensils that were made in the Korean Folk Village. (Benjamin Chasteen/The Epoch Times)

Price: $10.00 – 16.00 (11,000 – 18,000won)

Hours: 9:30 a.m. – 5:30 p.m.

Website: http://www.koreanfolk.co.kr/multi/english/about/about.asp

1. Gyeongbokgung Palace

The South Gate which is the main and largest gate to the Gyeongbokgung Palace, Korea’s largest palace. It has been destroyed and restored several times since it was first damaged by a fire when Japan invaded Korea in the 16th century. (Benjamin Chasteen/The Epoch Times)

Seoul has five grand palaces, and Gyeongbokgung (meaning “greatly blessed by Heaven,”) is the largest and most stunning. It was built in the heart of Seoul in 1395 and was deemed auspicious at the time.

The King’s resided in the palace, which houses his throne and a reception hall. It was burned down during a Japanese invasion in the late 1500s and was reconstructed in 1867, only to be torn down when Japan took control of much of Korea in the early 1900s. Today it has been almost completely restored.

A woman near the pavilion in the Gyeongbokgung Palace. (Benjamin Chasteen/The Epoch Times)

The Gyeonghoeru Pavilion where the King would have feasts for foreign envoys or his court officials. (Benjamin Chasteen/The Epoch Times)

Enter at the massive Gwanghwamun Gate (meaning “Let the light of enlightenment blanket the world”) to see the changing of the guards every hour. Don’t miss the best photo opportunity of this most picturesque site: the beautiful pavilion.

Final Thoughts

With Korea’s rich and long history, you could spend a month and still not see and do everything you would like to. But if you are planning to attend the 2018 Winter Olympics in PyeongChang, or just wanting to visit in the near future, don’t pass up the chance to experience the country’s breathtaking landscapes and the rich heritage of Korea’s well-preserved traditional culture.

from Travel – The Epoch Times http://www.theepochtimes.com/n3/2258764-10-must-see-places-in-south-korea-during-the-2018-winter-olympics/

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I am Bailey Tori, a Travel Photographer. I travel the world’s wonderful places like tourist places and other places of historic and tourism significance, and capture the places. I use these photos to promote the places among the tourists and other travelers across the world.